Amphibian steering device



@CL 8, 946- G. A. REYNOLDS, .1R

v AMPHIBIAN STEERING DEVICE s sheets-sheet 1 Filed Aug. 7, 1943 I l l Get. i946.

G. A. REYNOLDS, .JR 2,408,955

AMPHIBIAN STEERING DEVICE wiimiWumuwmwmll Filed Aug. '1, 1943 :s sheets-sheet 2 WWII' Oct 8 19456 G. A. REYNOLDS, JR

AMPHIBIAN STEERING DEVICE F'iled Aug. 7, 1943 3 sheds-sheet 5 y Mame fa/ffm; ./,g

Patented Oct. 8, 1946 AMPHIBIAN STEERING DEVICE George A. Reynolds, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., as-

signor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application August 7, 1943, Serial No. 497,725

8 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to the art of steering amphibious land and water craft while in the water.

Such amphibians generally depend for propulsion in the water on the running gear with which the amphibian is supported and propelled while travelling on land. While useful with amphibians having various types of running gear', my invention is especially adapted for use on amphibians employing track-laying mechanism for support and propulsion.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved steering device for use on amphibians.

In my co-pending application, Serial No. 462,484, in which I am a joint applicant with Dan R. Rankin, amphibian steering mechanism is disclosed which is especially suitable for use on amphibians equipped with track-laying mechanism. The essential feature of the steering mechanism there disclosed is xing the steering blades in the paths of the streams of water propelled upwardly and rearwardly by the two track-laying mechanisms where they leave the water at the stern of the craft. The specic steering mechan ism there disclosed while having great merit, nevertheless produced forces which retarded the forward movement of the amphibian equipped therewith and anything which cuts down the speed of the craft is, of course, highly undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved steering device for amphibians operating similarly to the steering mechanism aforesaid, but eliminating the drawback mentioned.

lIhe present invention accomplishes the improvement aforesaid by disposing the steering blades of the device in' planes which are substantially parallel with the fore and aft axis of the amphibian equipped therewith. It is desirable however, that these blades be reinforced without adding substantially to their weight or developing any reaction with the Water discharged from the track-laying mechanisms which would retard the forward motion of the amphibian.

It is thus another object of my invention to provide an amphibian steering device` reinforced as aforesaid.

Steering devices of the type to which my invention relates generally must occupy exposed positions at the rear end of the amphibian where these devices are likely to become damaged by hitting trees or other obstacles when the amphibian is backing.

lIt is yet another object of my invention to provide an amphibian steering device of this general invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged detail view o f a portion 0f Fig, 2, which includes the invention, with a portion of the latter broken away to show this in section taken on the line 3--3 of. Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention, the plane in which said view is taken being indicated by line 5 5 in Fig. 4. The modied structure shown in Fig. 5 has openings which are not found vin the structure of the preferred form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4, but is otherwise identical thereto.

Referring specifically to the drawings, these show an amphibian I0 including a hull II having an engine compartment I2 in the stern end thereof anda pilots cabin I3 in the bow thereof, there being a well I4 ldisposed therebetween for accommodating cargo or passengers. Disposed in the compartment I2 is an engine I5, power from which is transmitted through a drive shaftl and transmission I'I to drive sprockets I8 of a pair of track-laying mechanisms I9 mounted on opposite sides of the hull Il. Y

vThe transmission I1 transmits power dinerentially to the sprockets I8 through independent shafts 20 having brakes 2| which are separately controlled by levers 22 and 23 so that pulling on the left hand lever 22 retards the operation of the left hand track laying mechanism I9 and speeds up the right hand track laying mechanism I 9. Relaxing the lever 22 and pulling on the right hand lever 23 has exactly the opposite effect.

Each ofthe track-laying mechanisms I9 has an idle sprocket 26, a series of spring mounted bogie wheels 21 and idler rollers 28 all of which are mounted upon one of two pontoons 29 extending laterally from the hull sides 30. Trained about sprockets I8 and 26, the 'bogie wheels 21, and the rollers 28 of each mechanism I9 is an endless iiexible track 35 having a, series of grouser blades 36 thereon which contact the ground to support and propel the amphibian when the latter is travelling on land but which are also suitably shaped to engage the water and provide propulsion for the amphibian when it is afloat.

Provided to extend outward from the upper edge of each side of the hull II to overlie the adjacent mechanism I9 is a track guard 31.

As each 4track 35 travels along its endless path (see Fig. 2')A the grouser blades 3.6; infleavingthe water, throw a substantial stream Vof water` 40 upwardly and rearwardly as shown in Fig. 3.

Mounted on the two r'ear corners of the hull Hg.,

is a pair of defiector devices 45 and 46 which are reverse duplicates of each other so 'that a description of device 45 will suilicefor both.A ',Irhis device includes a heavy V-shapedchannelA iron guard rail 41 one arm of which is united'. with.;

.the adjacent track guard 31 while theother arm is rigidly fixed to .the stern end of the' hull" with` intercept this stream sov as to turn' thisstream inwardly and-set up areacting turning`moment directed'outwardly and tending to turn the amphibian l .to the right. The deflector plates 55, though inclined tothe horizontal, are disposed parallel with the fore and aftaxis ofl the amphibian.v III so that the impinging of the stream of water lthereagainst` sets up no moment which would-tend .to retard the forward motion of the amphibian. l

Eront edges oftthelplates 5,5 connect with and may be formed from the same sheet of metal as reinforcing ilanges- (il),` the latter being inclined downwardly relative to the` plates 55,` the angle of inclination not being suilcient to position the flanges 60 whereany negative4 or retarding *moment` isset upbyv reaction between the stream of water 40. and these; ilangea l Preferably these flangesk are in a neutral positiont/that is, parallel withthe direction of movement of thestreams ofwater 411-.A It would-he quite possil n4le,howeverg for these flanges to'bel bent frornlthe sheet'of metalfprming the plates 55".- at angles which would lcause, "some, forward moment to beproduced by the reaction betweenx the flanges Sil andthe stream of water 40 and this result would, ofcourse, notbeundesirable. y Y Y ,peratioi When the amphibian: I0 is -aoat' and both track-layingA mechanisms I9 arelopera'tingat the samespe'e'ds,v the( streams'fof water 40 engage the oblique' del'lectorplltes 55 ofthe right and left deflecting devices.- and v4Iso that .thes'enstreams of Water are' deflected` inwardly towards each other` thereby producing equal andoppositeoutwardy turning moments. .i

Should it be desiredrto .turn the amphibian Il) in thewater, the operatorv seizes one of .the levers 22' or 23, depending upon whether heiwishesuto turn to the left orv to-the right, .and pulls this towardshim to setthelb'rakexzl controlled by thisr lever and ythereby,l slow upithe operation of the track-laying; mechanism on Athat side ofthe amphibian and increase thespeed with which the opposite track-laying mechanism functions. This results in a lessening of the stream of water 40 produced by the retarded track-laying mechanism and an increase in the volume and speed of .the stream of water 40 produced by the accelerated 5 track-laying mechanism.

Assuming that the operator had pulled on the left control lever 22 as shownl indottedlines in Fis. 1, this would havegretarded'fthe' left tracklaying mechanism I9 and accelerated the right track-laying mechanism thereby decreasing the stream 40 produced by the ilrst and increasing thatprod-ucedby the second. As a result, the leftward moment created by reaction of the left hand stream 40 'with the deilecting device 45 is muchV less than the rightward moment produced by the corresponding reaction of the right hand stream' Ill with the deflecting device 46. The latter right hand turning moment is thus unbalanced, and swings the rear end of the amphibian to .the right causing the ship to turn in the water tothe left'. d

In a like" manner pulling on the right control lever 23 and releasing. the left lever will accelerate the speed of the left track-laying mechanism, retard the speed of the right track-laying mechamism-and will turn'the `amphibian I0' to the-right. This operation' ofthe invention to turn the amphibian Iii'` in responseto the reaction of the iixedfdeector's with streams of water discharged by the' propulsion devices on opposite sides of the ship is accomplished without a retar'ding moment being set up by this' reaction. This' is due, of course, to the fact Ythat the' deectoi" plates`155 are parallel with tlie'for'e andaft axis of the ship.

The kite-like structure off-tiie deflector devices is prote'ctedlb'y the guard rails 41 when the amphibian is backing sothat only when backing against a heavy' obj'ectwhich is low enough to get under the railsl 41A liutwhich is' higherthan thel bottom of the structure 50 will this structure be engaged and possibly damaged. The kite-like structure 50' al's'o ismade of relatively light sheet metal so that in' exceptional cases where conditions occur. whi'chrwill cause damageto thi'sstructure itcan bef readily lient backdnto shape if the damage is nottoo, serious on it" can be readily replaced by, arlsp'ae structrelcarried with the amphibian. j Y While thev vertical' plates 52.l and V53 are shown as'contin'us' tfsfplifyth design f the structure 5Illit might he', advntag'eous-toformopeningslllin theuplates 52` and-53j'st beneath the lines'whe're these plates join with deector plates 5.5 as shown in Fig.l 5 sothat water travelling upwardly along or deflected upwardly from the lower surfaces lof. the deflectingplates 55 passfthroughythese openings linf the plates52 and 5?T insteadV of strikingagainst-:these vertical plates -and beingltrappeds. 'I-'he provision olfthese openings in these verticalgplates 52- and 53 prevents .waterf otthe stream 40 being caught in the inverted- 1 vVsli apecl traps ybetween the f vertical plates 52 and-Sfe-nd the upper I twov o! the de-V flector plates 55:, l

l. In a dirigible water craft the combination of: a hull;. right andleft propulsion means' provided :on ,opposite sides of said hull, each of said means in-its operation'k discharging a stream of water non-parallel-with theffore and aftaxis of said cra-ft;Y ineansf for contrcllingtthe operation of said right and left propulsiommeans to drive these at the samepr ydifferent'speeds; and Ydeeewr means dSpQSe-dzfiri the Paths .Offr Said 75 streams at angles to oppositely intercept and deflect said streams from their course said deflector means being disposed substantially parallel with said axis whereby the driving of one of said propulsion means at a higher speed than the other causes an unbalanced turning moment to be produced by the reaction of the deflector means to the stream produced by the faster moving propulsion means without thereby producing a substantial moment tending to retard the forward motion of the craft.

2. In a dirigible water craft the combination of: a hull; right and left propulsion means provided on opposite sides of said hull, each of said means in its operation discharging a stream of water non-parallel with the fors and aft axis of said craft; means for controlling the operation cf said right and left propulsion means to drive these at the same or different speeds; and deflector means fixed in the paths of said streams at angles to oppositely intercept and deflect said streams from their course said deector means being disposed substantially parallel with said axis whereby the driving of one of said propulsion means at a higher speed than the other causes an unbalanced turning moment to be produced by the reaction of the deflector means to the stream produced by the faster moving propulsion means without thereby producing a substantial moment tending to retard the forward motion of the craft.

3. In a dirigible water craft the combination of t a hull; right and left propulsion means provided on opposite sides of said hull, each of said means in its operation discharging a stream of water non-parallel with the fore and aft axis of said craft; means for controlling the operation of said right and left propulsion means to drive these at the same or different speeds; and deector means disposed in the paths of said streams at angles to intercept and deflect said streams inwardly from their course said deflector means being disposed substantially parallel with said axis whereby the driving of one of said propulsion means at a higher speed than the other causes an unbalanced turning moment to water non-parallel with the fore and aft axis of said craft; means for controlling the operation of said right and left propulsion means to drive these at the same or different speeds; deflector means disposed in the paths of said streams at angles to oppositely intercept and deflect said streams from their course said deflector means being disposed substantially parallel with said axis whereby the driving of one of said propulsion means at a higher speed than the other causes an unbalanced turning moment to be produced by the reaction of the deector means to the stream produced by the faster moving propulsion means without thereby producing a substantial moment tending to retard the forward motion of the craft; and reinforcing means for said deflector means which is embodied with an edge thereof and disposed substantially parallel with said streams.

5. In a dirigible water craft the combination ci: propulsion means provided on opposite sides of said craft, said means in their operation discharging streams of water rearwardly and nonhorizontally through the air above the surface of theA water sustaining said craft; deflectors "iounted on craft and disposed parallel with the fore and aft axis of said craft in said streams of water so as to intercept and deilect the same oppositely; and means for selectively controlling the operation of said propulsion means to effect a steering of said craft by said deflector.

6. In an amphibian craft the combination of: a hull; right and left track-laying belts on opposite sides of said hull; an endless series of blades on said belts for engaging the water when said craft is afloat; power means for driving said belts to propel said craft through the water, said blades on said belts discharging streams of water rearwardly and upwardly in eifecting said propulsion; deilectors iixed on said hull in parallelism with the fore and aft axis of said craft and disposed in the paths of said streams s0 as to deflect the latter inwardly; and means for con trolling the driving of said belts to drive these at the same or different speeds.

'7. In an amphibian craft the combination of:

a hull right and left track-laying belts on opposite sides of said hull; an endless series of blades on said belts for engaging the water when said craft is ailoat; power means for driving said belts to propel said craft through the water, said blades on said belts discharging streams of water rearwardly and upwardly in eiecting said propulsion; deiiectors iixed on said hull in parallelism with the fore and aft axis of said craft and disposed in the paths of said streams so as to deilect the latter inwardly; means for controlling the driving of said belts to drive these at the same or different speeds; and reinforcing vanes bent from leading edges of said deiiectors and disposed substantially parallel with said streams so as to produce no reaction from engagement with said streams tending to retard the forward motion of the craft.

8. A combination as in claim 1 in which said deilector means is made of relatively light sheet metal; and a protecting guard provided on said hull and extending rearwardly aa greater distance than said deflector means to guard the latter against damage when said craft is backing.

GEORGE A. REYNOLDSl JR. 

